The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1887-12-06
THE COLONEL'S TALE.
From All Year Round.


the fire, Colonel Thornton said "If you men
are not too tired, and don't mind sitting up for
another half hour think L can tell you o
good story"
We protested we were never less tired, and
could sit up till morning il necessary. So tho
colonel began
My father, as you Know, was parson, but
he took orders late in life, after having been
fifteen years at the bar, and the events of
which | am going to tell you he, himself, told
me rs having come directly under his eye
when he was q barrister
cit was at the Monmouth assizes, in 1S-,
that a case was tried which became the talk of
the neighhorhood and country for years after.
My father was sitting in the court OF the as
sistant judge, when n note was brought to him
from friend i'll the adjoining court, asking
him to come and hear a case of more than
usual interest, the facts of which were these
Some time before farmers house near
Monmouth had been broken into and robbed
by men disguised and masked, the farmer
murdered and his servant sh0cl<ingly ill-treat
cd Among other things which were stolen
were two old-fashioned silver brooches, Curl
ously inlaid with malachite, heirlooms of tho
family; and although unremitting search was
made, and the description of the lost articles
made widely known, no trace of the muir
derGrs could DO found.
"a month or two after the murder, how
mon lodging house in Bristol noticed dissi-
pated looking sailor lying on pallet and resting
his head on small bundle. He asked him what
1t contained, and was told that it was only his
kit The officer, not satisfied opened the
bundle, and almost tho first things to fall out
We're the two brooches made of silver and
malachte. Struck by their curious beauty,
and wondering how such a wretched looking
fellow could have become possessed of them,
he suddenly remembered the advertisement
lesGrlDfiOn stolen
GLOW did you come by these?' he in
quired.
"The sailor replied: by CHARGE. When I
came ashore some time ago with plenty of
money i'll my pocket. met an old seaman who
was down on his luck. and he offered to sell
me these things, which had belonged 20 his
mother. was pretty flush, and gave him a
good price for them, although they We're use
less to me. And that's all about it,
"The police officer, still dissatisfied, took
him into custody. He was sent to Monmouth
gaol, the brooches were identified, and he was
committed for trial at she assize on the charge
OF theft and murder And" continued the
colonel, impresslvely, az my father entered
the court, tilis man was being placed in the
Tall 5eyonsf'tAe then average height ofnaa n
and gaunt, with an unl1ept beard, and an evil
yellow eye, and though evidently suffering
from his long imprisonment he yet presented
a powerful and imposing front The trial had
begun, and he had just been asked the usual
question: Arc you guilty or not guilty" and
had answered III hollow voice: Not guilty,
my lord when the entrance of one of the
court officials with gentleman stopped the
proceedings for a while And here | must ex-
plain this interruption.
"a few days before quiet, gentlemanly
man, n Captain Forsyth, of his malesty's navy,
had arrived at the chief hotel OF the town on a
fishing excursion; but tie weather had been
SO adverse that he was Obliged to look else
where for amusement. Turning to tho land
lord for information, he was told Of this trial
rs exciting considerable interest, and so it
came to pass that, rs the prisoner took his
place at the bar, Captain Forsyth sent his card
othe judge, who gladly allowed him, rs was
then The custom, aseat on the bench.
The case proceeded; witnesses were called
10 identify the brooches, the servants swore to
the figure Of the prisoner as resembling that of
the murderer; no witnesses were called for his
defense--no one defended him; everything
pointed to his guilt, and the jury retired to
their room. In few minutes they returned,
and, amid the GREATNESS expectation Of the
crowded court, tho foreman announced their
opinion that the man was Guilty
Directly this word wasslttered, the prisoner,
Who had boon leaning as If for support against
the side of the dock raised himself TO his full
height, stretched out both his hands above his
head, and, looking up, exclaimed in q broken
voice: Not guilty not guilty
"The judge then asked hin7, as was usual If
he had anything to say before sentence should
VI
Not guilty, my lord, not guilty; before heaven
and man | am innocent OF this crime. never
set my eyes on the murdered man; did no
murder. OH captain, captain in his Yehe-
nenGe he addressed the judge as il he were his
oilicerI am as innocent Of this crime as the
babe unborn. lie paused, then suddenly, in
a voice choking with feeling, he eXclaimed
Yes, yes, only one man can save me now; but
he can do il, swear what You may. The Lord
be thanked, that man is here
"a buzz of uSLguglmGuL ran round the
court; the feeling Of awe that had held the
audience changed into one OF amaZement.
Point him ont to me- said the judge.
" THE man who can save me- replied the
prisoner, sits there beside YOU, pointing to
the astOnishcd Captain Forsyth.
"Ihe Judge turned to Captain Forsyth and
said This man appears TO know you. Is it
the Casc2
Certainly not he replied, much surpris-
ed Il neyor saw him before in my life.
oh, captain broke in the prisoners yes,
you needed start, know you, Captain For
syth You are never going to swear away an
innocent mans life like that?'
cit is curious, my man. the captain re-
piled, that you know my name hut repeat
that ! never saw you before in my life
"'What? Not know John Williams OF the
Neptune? The coxswaim OF tho captains
cutterY
"'Yes, know John Williams, but you arc
not he. John Williams was the smartest man
that ever served under me, and mover likely to
stand where you are now
" Captain repeated the prisoner, u tell
you am John Williams. A long illness, n
hard bout Of drinking and this cursed impris-
onment have made me what / am. And will
prove it captain, will prove IL il you will
only listen
"The sensation caused by this dialogue was
immense. The judge. the members OF the bar
and tho spectators were equally astonsshed at
tho curious. turn the affair had taken, and,
though believing the man TO be guilty OF des-
pcrate deceit To save his life, were eagerly
awaiting what should come.
Captain continued the prisoner, i am
accused Of numbering man here on june
18th, more than nine months ago. Now tell
me, sir was not John Williams--your cox
swain-inyalded homo from the West African
station on the last Of that month";
. What the man says remarked Captain
Forsyth 10 the judge, is perfectly true. His
naiesty's ship, the lnyncbe, sailed with our
ipvaldcd mon Tor England on june GOTH
- Eti r,14si Orc T0Sc4 vn 800 "Ycs aid arrived
in England 40 the end Of July. weak aud i'll,
and getting my prize money, went and drank
II all away. And that's how IL was [ was
found al Bristol, whore ! had gone for another
ship and ever since then / have been in
this accused jail
"The follow is plausible enough, again re-